Why Train Your Dog?
The Dog In Front Of You.
It’s entirely possible you’ve had dogs before who were good as gold. Maybe even the same breed. But genetics play out differently in every dog. Things you didn’t need to do with past dogs might be essential with your current one. And that’s okay. It’s not a failure on your part—it’s just genetics, personality, and the reality that environmental triggers are never consistent.
The goal is always to get the best out of the dog in front of you. But that also means accepting who they are. Some dogs may never enjoy being social with other dogs—or even people outside of the immediate household. We can absolutely teach appropriate behaviour, but we must also respect our dogs’ limits. It’s not about forcing them into situations they can’t handle—it’s about helping them succeed in the world they live in.
Remember: we don’t always get the dog we want. Sometimes, we get the dog we need. And I can definitely attest to that.